Description

Located in the East Rogers Park community (adjacent on the west to Sheridan Road, abutting Loyola University’s property to the south, and Lake Michigan on the east), Loyola Park sits on approximately 21.5 acres of land. The large fieldhouse is equipped with two gymnasiums, woodshop, boxing center and clubrooms for rental. Outside, the park offers a senior baseball and a softball field, a two-hoop basketball court, sand volleyball courts, four tennis courts, a playground, as well as a nearly 2/3-mile walking trail along the beautiful beach and Lake Michigan. Beach season begins the Friday before Memorial Weekend and goes through Labor Day.

With a great diversity, and quantity, of programs: there’s something for everyone at Loyola Park! Parents will appreciate the opportunity for their tots / preschoolers to increase their socialization skills in programs such as: Preschool, Tot Spot, MightyFitFamily, Saturday Dribblers, Saturday Kickers, Tiny Tot- and Recreational-Tumbling. Loyola Park is one of the sites for the popular Park Kids after school program for youth; Winter- and Spring-Break Camps are available during days when school is out.

Loyola Park is also noted for its Special Recreation programs for people with disabilities—including training for Special Olympics, after school Park Kids, summer camp for children and teens.

Adults and/or seniors are not forgotten; they can enjoy low-impact aerobics, conditioning, cross-training, yoga, boxing, and volleyball.Tae Kwon Do is an all-ages class offered through a partnership.

On the cultural side, Loyola Park offers arts & crafts and woodcraft. The park has Art Partnership who bring their talents to the community. Barrel of Monkey's offers writing and improv workshops for children and Full Effect offers Hip Hop Dance classes.

Loyola Park is the home of artist Lynn Takata’s “Windform”: a 100’ long abstract concrete sculpture, which is meant to represent the movement of the water--and provides areas for patrons to sit and enjoy the lake, as well as slopes for children to climb and play on.

Loyola Park hosts a bounty of annual special events: the autumn Boxing Show and Halloween Party, Black History Month Celebration, Family Valentine Dance, Earth Day Park Clean-up, Easter Egg Hunt, Gym Showcase, and the Father’s Day-weekend Artists of the Wall Festival.

History

Loyola Park was the sole park created by the North Shore Park District, one of 22 independent park boards consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934. Unlike most of these park boards, the North Shore District, formed in 1900, was at first interested only in enhancing the area through boulevard improvements along Sheridan Road, Pratt Boulevard, and Ashland Avenue. By 1905, however, public pressure had prompted the district to consider park development. The district spent several years mulling its options. Finally, in 1909, at the urging of the Rogers Park Woman's Club, the North Shore District determined to concentrate its resources on purchasing land for a single beachfront park and boating basin known as North Shore Park. Shortly thereafter, noted landscape architect and engineer O.C. Simonds developed plans for a pier at the site, but these were never realized. By 1917, the North Shore District had acquired more than nine acres of lakeshore property. A small fieldhouse, built in 1923, soon provided game and club rooms. Playfields were flooded for ice skating in winter; in 1929, the local American Legion post erected a shelter house for skaters. Several years after the Chicago Park District took over in 1934, local residents asked that North Shore Park be renamed. The park district agreed, and held a contest to choose a new name. Neighborhood residents favored the name Loyola Park, for nearby Loyola University. The Jesuits began to develop this important Rogers Park institution in 1906, when they purchased a 20-acre site between Devon and Loyola Avenues. During the 1930s, the university raised its neighborhood profile substantially by constructing a number of dramatic Art Deco buildings, including the Madonna della Strada Chapel. Around 1950, the Chicago Park District more than doubled the size of Loyola Park and built a new fieldhouse with an adjacent grandstand. Another half-acrewas added1971, bringing the size ofLoyola Park to more than 21.5 acres.

Fall Programs

Most fall programs start the week of September 19 and run through the week of November 21. Click on the program name links below to view a program and register now. Registration is on-going while spots are available.

Winter Programs

Most winter programs start the week of January 9 and run through the week of March 13, 2017. View programs online & create your wish list beginning Monday, November 21. Registration dates for our park are:

Online registration begins on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 9:00am.

In-person registration begins on Saturday, December 10, 2016.

Click on the program name links below for program descriptions, availability information and to register online now (if available).

2016/09/06 20:00From September 6, 2016 to December 23, 2016Each Monday from 3pm to 6pmEach Tuesday from 3pm to 6pmEach Wednesday from 3pm to 6pmEach Thursday from 3pm to 6pmEach Friday from 3pm to 6pm Except the following dates: Monday, October 10, 2016 Thursday, November 24, 2016 Friday, November 11, 2016 Friday, November 25, 2016

2017/01/09 21:00From January 9, 2017 to March 24, 2017Each Monday from 3pm to 6pmEach Tuesday from 3pm to 6pmEach Wednesday from 3pm to 6pmEach Thursday from 3pm to 6pmEach Friday from 3pm to 6pm Except the following dates: Monday, January 16, 2017 Monday, February 20, 2017 Friday, January 20, 2017

2017/01/09 16:00From January 9, 2017 to March 17, 2017Each Monday from 10am to NoonEach Tuesday from 10am to NoonEach Wednesday from 10am to NoonEach Thursday from 10am to NoonEach Friday from 10am to Noon Except the following dates: Monday, January 16, 2017 Monday, February 13, 2017 Monday, February 20, 2017

Hamlin Park hosted their annual Boxing Showcase. We had 10 bouts featuring our boxers from across the city. Check out the sweet photos we captured.
The Chicago Park District boxing gyms are located at 20 parks across the city.

Boys and girls ages 13-18 can now sign up to play basketball in the admission-free Windy City Hoops program offered at 10 citywide parks. The spring session begins today and culminates with championships June 1. Summer session will run June 14-Aug. 24.

Dancin' cheek to chest. The Chicago Park District celebrated Valentine’s Day with numerous dances and parties throughout the city including the traditional daddy-daughter/mommy-son dances. We captured some sweet memories from the dances.

More than 400 girls gathered at Warren Park for the annual north region Tumbling Meet. Over the course of 2-days the girls showed off their best tumbling skills. Winners advance to City-Wide competition. We captured a few amazing memories to share

The Encore Season of ‘Night Out in the Parks’ presented by Mayor Rahm Emanuel brings more than 1,000 free cultural events to a neighborhood near you. From theatre to concerts and dance to movies in the parks there is something for everyone.

5,500 athletes representing parks all over the city participated in the Opening Ceremonies at Soldier Field today! Congratulations to all the dedicated athletes! Looking forward to the spring games starting tomorrow.

Reviews

Description

Located in the East Rogers Park community (adjacent on the west to Sheridan Road, abutting Loyola University’s property to the south, and Lake Michigan on the east), Loyola Park sits on approximately 21.5 acres of land. The large fieldhouse is equipped with two gymnasiums, woodshop, boxing center and clubrooms for rental. Outside, the park offers a senior baseball and a softball field, a two-hoop basketball court, sand volleyball courts, four tennis courts, a playground, as well as a nearly 2/3-mile walking trail along the beautiful beach and Lake Michigan. Beach season begins the Friday before Memorial Weekend and goes through Labor Day.

With a great diversity, and quantity, of programs: there’s something for everyone at Loyola Park! Parents will appreciate the opportunity for their tots / preschoolers to increase their socialization skills in programs such as: Preschool, Tot Spot, MightyFitFamily, Saturday Dribblers, Saturday Kickers, Tiny Tot- and Recreational-Tumbling. Loyola Park is one of the sites for the popular Park Kids after school program for youth; Winter- and Spring-Break Camps are available during days when school is out.

Loyola Park is also noted for its Special Recreation programs for people with disabilities—including training for Special Olympics, after school Park Kids, summer camp for children and teens.

Adults and/or seniors are not forgotten; they can enjoy low-impact aerobics, conditioning, cross-training, yoga, boxing, and volleyball.Tae Kwon Do is an all-ages class offered through a partnership.

On the cultural side, Loyola Park offers arts & crafts and woodcraft. The park has Art Partnership who bring their talents to the community. Barrel of Monkey's offers writing and improv workshops for children and Full Effect offers Hip Hop Dance classes.

Loyola Park is the home of artist Lynn Takata’s “Windform”: a 100’ long abstract concrete sculpture, which is meant to represent the movement of the water--and provides areas for patrons to sit and enjoy the lake, as well as slopes for children to climb and play on.

Loyola Park hosts a bounty of annual special events: the autumn Boxing Show and Halloween Party, Black History Month Celebration, Family Valentine Dance, Earth Day Park Clean-up, Easter Egg Hunt, Gym Showcase, and the Father’s Day-weekend Artists of the Wall Festival.

Loyola Park was the sole park created by the North Shore Park District, one of 22 independent park boards consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934. Unlike most of these park boards, the North Shore District, formed in 1900, was at first interested only in enhancing the area through boulevard improvements along Sheridan Road, Pratt Boulevard, and Ashland Avenue. By 1905, however, public pressure had prompted the district to consider park development. The district spent several years mulling its options. Finally, in 1909, at the urging of the Rogers Park Woman's Club, the North Shore District determined to concentrate its resources on purchasing land for a single beachfront park and boating basin known as North Shore Park. Shortly thereafter, noted landscape architect and engineer O.C. Simonds developed plans for a pier at the site, but these were never realized. By 1917, the North Shore District had acquired more than nine acres of lakeshore property. A small fieldhouse, built in 1923, soon provided game and club rooms. Playfields were flooded for ice skating in winter; in 1929, the local American Legion post erected a shelter house for skaters. Several years after the Chicago Park District took over in 1934, local residents asked that North Shore Park be renamed. The park district agreed, and held a contest to choose a new name. Neighborhood residents favored the name Loyola Park, for nearby Loyola University. The Jesuits began to develop this important Rogers Park institution in 1906, when they purchased a 20-acre site between Devon and Loyola Avenues. During the 1930s, the university raised its neighborhood profile substantially by constructing a number of dramatic Art Deco buildings, including the Madonna della Strada Chapel. Around 1950, the Chicago Park District more than doubled the size of Loyola Park and built a new fieldhouse with an adjacent grandstand. Another half-acrewas added1971, bringing the size ofLoyola Park to more than 21.5 acres.

The Chicago Park District is the largest municipal park manager in the nation and owner of more than 8,100 acres of green space. We invite you to take in a concert or a movie at one of our 580 parks, to expand your horizons by registering for one of our thousands of programs offered throughout our 260 field houses, to get a great workout indoors at one of our state-of-the-art fitness centers, or outdoors along Lake Michigan’s 26 miles of pristine lakefront, or enjoy nature with a peaceful visit.